As teenagers, it’s time to make your faith your own. The best way to start understanding your faith is by studying God’s Word. You may want to join a Bible Study or reading scripture on your own time may be more your style. Either way, reading the Bible on its own can be hard and confusing. Plus, there are thousands of translations and styles, so picking a Bible that’s actually helpful can be incredibly difficult. Using a checklist of 9 key features, plus highlighting some unique additions, we were able to pinpoint the best Bibles for teens who are growing in their faith:
Best Study Bible
First, the Bible App by Life.Church is pretty awesome, so give that one a try first. Many Bibles have accompanying apps that are incredibly useful, so it’s certainly worth having both on hand.
NIV Application Bible
Great Study Bibles Have:
- Includes Jesus’ words in red.
- Maps and charts.
Lays flat when open.- Study notes added to help you understand the meaning of the passages you’re reading as well as integrate the teaching into your life.
- Double column format.
- Historic background information.
- Individual profile information and context to help you understand the text you’re reading.
- Overview for each book of the Bible.
Extra wide margins provide space for journaling, doodling, taking notes or writing prayers (and answers to prayer) while engaging with the Word of God.
Other helpful tools for a teenage Bible:
- Each chapter includes Questions for Growth to help you reflect on and apply scripture to your life.
Our favorite NIV Application Bible tool:
- Includes Character of God articles to help you embrace God and His desire for your life.
NIV Teen Study Bible
Great Study Bibles Have:
Includes Jesus’ words in red.- Maps and charts.
- Lays flat when open.
Study notes added to help you understand the meaning of the passages you’re reading as well as integrate the teaching into your life.- Double column format.
Historic background information.Individual profile information and context to help you understand the text you’re reading.- Overview for each book of the Bible.
Extra wide margins provide space for journaling, doodling, taking notes or writing prayers (and answers to prayer) while engaging with the Word of God.
Other best rated study Bible tools:
- Views each book of the Bible in relation to the big picture.
- Fun Q&A’s to test what you’ve learned.
Our favorite tool for this good study Bible:
- Notes address the issues and trends that teens face in today’s culture, including: anxiety, depression, and stress.
NIV Student Bible
Great Study Bibles Have:
Includes Jesus’ words in red.- Maps and charts.
- Lays flat when open.
- Study notes added to help you understand the meaning of the passages you’re reading as well as integrate the teaching into your life.
- Double column format.
- Historic background information.
- Individual profile information and context to help you understand the text you’re reading.
- Overview for each book of the Bible.
Extra wide margins provide space for journaling, doodling, taking notes or writing prayers (and answers to prayer) while engaging with the Word of God.
Other helpful tools:
- Explains confusing verses and provides interesting facts to help deepen your understanding as you read the Bible.
Our favorite tool:
- Reading plans that strategically tie the text of the Bible together.
NIV Beautiful World Coloring Bible for Teen Girls
Great Study Bibles Have:
Includes Jesus’ words in red.Maps and charts.Lays flat when open.Study notes added to help you understand the meaning of the passages you’re reading as well as integrate the teaching into your life.Double column format.Historic background information.Individual profile information and context to help you understand the text you’re reading.Overview for each book of the Bible.- Extra wide margins provide space for journaling, doodling, taking notes or writing prayers (and answers to prayer) while engaging with the Word of God.
Best Bible version for beginners fav:
- Beautiful page and sidebar designs encourage creative expression as well as a more personal connection to God’s Word.
NIV Journal the Word Bible for Teen Girls
Great Study Bibles Have:
- Includes Jesus’ words in red.
Maps and charts.- Lays flat when open.
- Study notes added to help you understand the meaning of the passages you’re reading as well as integrate the teaching into your life.
Double column format.Historic background information.Individual profile information and context to help you understand the text you’re reading.Overview for each book of the Bible.- Extra wide margins provide space for journaling, doodling, taking notes or writing prayers (and answers to prayer) while engaging with the Word of God.
Our favorite tool:
- Uses scripture verses throughout the Bible as the foundation for through-provoking questions that inspire journaling.
ESV Teen Study Bible
Great Study Bibles Have:
Includes Jesus’ words in red.- Maps and charts.
Lays flat when open.- Study notes added to help you understand the meaning of the passages you’re reading as well as integrate the teaching into your life.
- Double column format.
- Historic background information.
- Individual profile information and context to help you understand the text you’re reading.
- Overview for each book of the Bible.
Extra wide margins provide space for journaling, doodling, taking notes or writing prayers (and answers to prayer) while engaging with the Word of God.
Other helpful tools for the best rated study Bible:
- Notes from the ESV Concise Study Bible added to help you understand the meaning of the passages you’re reading as well as integrate the teaching into your life.
- 365 devotions adapted from The Story by John Nielson.
Our favorite tool:
- Key doctrines defined in the sidebars help bring clarity to Christian theology.
ESV Student Study Bible OR ESV Journaling Study Bible
Great Study Bibles Have:
Includes Jesus’ words in red.- Maps and charts.
Lays flat when open.- Study notes added to help you understand the meaning of the passages you’re reading as well as integrate the teaching into your life.
- Double column format.
- Historic background information.
- Individual profile information and context to help you understand the text you’re reading.
- Overview for each book of the Bible.
- Extra wide margins provide space for journaling, doodling, taking notes or writing prayers (and answers to prayer) while engaging with the Word of God.
Other helpful tools in the ESV Journaling Study Bible:
- Includes timeline for each book of the Bible.
- Note that the Journaling Study Bible includes extra wide margins.
Our favorite ESV Student Study Bible tool:
- Interesting facts and definitions that provide deeper understanding to text read.
CSB Student Study Bible
Great Study Bibles Have:
- Includes Jesus’ words in red.
- Maps and charts.
- Lays flat when open.
- Study notes added to help you understand the meaning of the passages you’re reading as well as integrate the teaching into your life.
- Double column format.
- Historic background information.
- Individual profile information and context to help you understand the text you’re reading.
- Overview for each book of the Bible.
Extra wide margins provide space for journaling, doodling, taking notes or writing prayers (and answers to prayer) while engaging with the Word of God.
Other helpful tools:
- Articles throughout making the Bible more personal and applicable to your life.
- Fun Q&A’s to test what you’ve learned.
- Important Bible verses to memorize highlighted.
Our favorite tool:
- 99 essential Christian truths that lay the foundation for your growing faith.
NKJV Color Code Study Bible
Great Study Bibles Have:
- Includes Jesus’ words in red.
- Maps and charts.
Lays flat when open.- Study notes added to help you understand the meaning of the passages you’re reading as well as integrate the teaching into your life.
- Double column format.
- Historic background information.
Individual profile information and context to help you understand the text you’re reading.- Overview for each book of the Bible.
Extra wide margins provide space for journaling, doodling, taking notes or writing prayers (and answers to prayer) while engaging with the Word of God.
Our favorite tool in this good study Bible:
- Color-coded highlights based on 7 core topics to help you see the thread throughout the Old and New Testaments.
NLT One-Year Chronological Study Bible
Great Study Bibles Have:
Includes Jesus’ words in red.Maps and charts.Lays flat when open.- Study notes added to help you understand the meaning of the passages you’re reading as well as integrate the teaching into your life.
- Double column format.
- Historic background information.
Individual profile information and context to help you understand the text you’re reading.- Overview for each book of the Bible.
Extra wide margins provide space for journaling, doodling, taking notes or writing prayers (and answers to prayer) while engaging with the Word of God.
Other helpful tools:
- Guides you through reading the entire Bible in one year (starting on January 1, New Years Day).
- Icons help you track the progress of the overarching story of the Bible.
Our favorite tool:
- Each book of the Bible is laid out according to historical order, rather than grouped together by category.
NLT Student Life Application Study Bible
Great Study Bibles Have:
- Includes Jesus’ words in red.
- Maps and charts.
Lays flat when open.- Study notes added to help you understand the meaning of the passages you’re reading as well as integrate the teaching into your life.
- Double column format.
- Historic background information.
- Individual profile information and context to help you understand the text you’re reading.
Overview for each book of the Bible.Extra wide margins provide space for journaling, doodling, taking notes or writing prayers (and answers to prayer) while engaging with the Word of God.
Other helpful tools in good Bibles for beginners:
- Guides you through the larger story of the Bible.
Our favorite tool in the best study Bible for beginners:
- A series of answers to important questions and topics explaining our Christian foundation.
